Airport Metro trains to go faster

New Delhi, Feb 10 (IANS) The swanky Airport Metro Express Line (AMEL) in the capital will run at higher speed from Monday, an official said.

"Currently the AMEL is running at 60 kmph. Delhi Metro has conducted inspections of the corridor. From Monday, the speed of trains would be increased to 70 kmph and to 80 kmph in a phased manner," said a Delhi Metro official.

The metro line, which started in February 2011, was shut for nearly six months on grounds of safety. On the 22.7 km corridor, the operations started in January at speeds of 30-35 kmph and gradually increased to 60 kmph.

Before the suspension of the service, the trains were running at a speed of 105 kmph.

The Delhi Airport Metro Line is a joint venture between Delhi Metro and Reliance Infra. Operations on the airport line were suspended July 8 last year after some faults were detected in the civil structure.

The Airport Metro, with six stations, ferries over 15,000 people daily. It has ferried 68 lakh passengers in over 70,000 trips in 15 months.